Adrien kept his eye on Ella as the pair worked on their task. That panic attack came out of nowhere and he wanted to be sure she felt okay enough to participate- even though she should have gone to the nurse to rest (though he knew she'd object and say she was fine). But now he couldn't help but wonder... why did she panic at his musings about Raven and Cat Noir? He would be lying if he said he didn't want to know who his super-heroine was in real life, and it would be a bigger lie if he said he wasn't worried about having to choose between having Raven or having Ella...
But Adrien had to wonder this too: did Ella know who Raven was under the mask? She had met the heroine before, according to Raven. Did the two girls talk or develop a friendship enough for Raven to share with Ella who she was? Would she do that, but not tell him as Cat Noir? No, she wasn't that cruel... She said one day they'd know each other's identities and he trusted her to keep her word.

Adrien sighed, wondering when in the world his life got so complicated, before moving his gaze from the grey-eyed beauty to the courtyard. The whole school had been told to clean the area, all the windows surrounding it and the metal poles/railings... well, everyone except Chloé. Said girl was sitting on a bench nearby on her phone. While he was wiping the windows with a rag, he looked over at the blonde just in time to see Chloé make Rose cry.
Adrien groaned, his mood tipping passed annoyed and walked over to her.
"Adrien?" Ella's voice floated over to him but he just shook his head.
"Adri-kins!" Chloé jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck. He gasped at the tight grip before pulling her arms away and stepping back.
"Did you have anything to do with the fire department showing up at school, Chloé?" He asked, getting right to the point.
"Of course it was me who called the fire department. So what?"
"And it doesn't bother you that everyone's being punished because of you?" Adrien asked, exasperated by her actions.
"No. Why would it? They all seem to enjoy getting dirty making cookies. How's it any different than getting dirty cleaning floors? They should be thanking me, if anything."
Adrien sighed, disappointment coursing through him.
"Chloé. How long have you and I been friends?"
"Since we were adorable little tots, Adri-kins." She gave him those puppy eyes, and Adrien couldn't help but cringe at the way they looked on her... but on Ella, those eyes were adorable... Shaking his head, Adrien sighed.
"Well, I'm sorry Chloé, but I can't be friends with someone who treats other people like this. You've gotta be nice to people!" He threw up his hands, not knowing how else to get the point through her head.
"N-nice?"
"Yes, nice. It's not that hard." Adrien walked away back over to Ella, who shot him a questioning glance. He shook his head, and went back to wiping the window.

After school, Adrien and Ella were allowed to stop at the café down the street, since it was Saturday and the photoshoot originally scheduled had to be changed due to some poor assistant losing one of the jackets (Ella felt so bad for the man). The pair sat down outside in view of Gorilla, Adrien happily sipping his tea while Ella pulled out her journal and began writing.
"Oh- you promised to show me that song you were writing for music- the one about opposite childhoods." Adrien's brain reminded him as he spotted familiar words in the girls book.
"Oh yeah- that one. Here- let me see if I have the sheet music in my bag..." Ella pulled her bag into her lap, digging through the massive amounts of looseleaf crammed within the fabric. Adrien chuckled at the way the bag seemed ready to burst.
"You really should get a binder for all your sheet music- then you won't lose any of them..." Adrien started, his voice trailing off as he remembered the single sheet of music still tucked in his own bag from the beginning of the school year. As Ella dug through her bag, Adrien reached into his and pulled out the paper.
"I think this is yours, Elle..." He spoke softly, sliding the sheet over to the girl as she straightened up with the crumpled stack she had been searching for in her hands. He watched her cock her head in confusion, placing the one song down before picking up the folded sheet.
"...I was writing this when school started." She whispered, her eyes reading the words for the tune 'Wanderer's Lullaby'.
"I found it under my desk, that day we spoke in the rain. I didn't know it was yours then, so I've kept it in my bag. The words are comforting, so I would read them at photoshoots when I was feeling stressed out. But I kept forgetting about asking you if it was yours after I recognized the handwriting..."
Adrien looked down to his tea cup, embarrassed. He really hadn't meant to keep the paper and though he intended to give it back, the words really meant a lot to him now...
"It's okay, Adrien, really. No harm done. I rewrote it and I think it ended up better the second time around. So you can keep this, if it helps you." Ella smiled, placing a hand atop his. The blond met her soft gaze and couldn't stop that soft, adoring smile he reserved only for her, from crawling onto his face.
"You really are amazing..." He whispered, twisting his hand to intertwine his fingers with hers. Ella matched his grin before nudging both the single sheet and the paper-clipped stack towards him. He took the one, folded it back up and tucked it into his bag once more, before picking up the other song.
"I called it 'Hologram'. Mrs. Archaumbault gave me lots of positive feedback on it- it's on the list for the competition in March." Adrien nodded, his eyes scanning the page and taking in the words.
"Do you have the complete list on you? I know we had a rough draft."
"Um... yeah I think so. Let me look." Ella once again dug through her bag as Adrien read the song lyrics.
"Here we go!" Ella smiled wide, pulling the sheet free. Flattening the crumpled paper, the girl double checked which version she found before passing it over. Adrien took it with thanks and scanned the list.
'Possible song performance list for Ella Maunt:
1- Let It Out
2- Rain
3- Hologram
4- It's Ladybug...'
There were a bunch of songs Adrien hadn't heard before, figuring they were hidden within Ella's song journals, but before he finished the list, his phone dinged; Ella's following not long after.
"Huh? Since when does Chloé have my number?" Ella commented, cocking her head at the text message on her phone.
"She's having a party for the whole school. Looks like she's taking my advice on trying to be nicer to everyone." Adrien smiled at the message, before replying that he'd be there. Ella hummed, typing out her own response.

After texting his father and getting permission, Ella and Adrien headed over to the Grand Paris hotel. While the party had been clearly last minute, the hotel staff had managed to put everything together pretty well and a good chunk of the students were already there. As the car pulled up and the pair got out, a yell of Adrien's name directed his attention to Nino running down the sidewalk towards him. The males greeted with fist bumps while Marinette and Alya came up behind the redhead's boyfriend.
"Hi Mari, Alya." Ella smiled at the two, hiding the hurt as Marinette's eyes turned cold at the sight of Ella so close to Adrien. The blunette more than likely saw Ella get out of the car after Adrien, as well. But she pushed it down, in favor of Alya asking something about tomorrow and what time she should text people to be at the park.
"Cause I know Adrien told you the reason he needed that list so there's no point in trying to hide it. Now I know you don't like crowds, so it's just our homeroom, and obviously it's noting fancy cause that's not how you are but I need to know what kind of sweets from Marinette's parents bakery you want there cause obviously we need stuff to eat and Ms. Bustier already said she'd supply lunch-"
"Alya!" Ella cut her friend off with a nervous chuckle. She really didn't know how to handle the situation but she figured it would be just best to allow the redhead to get everything figured out.
"You can decide whatever you want, Alya- I trust you'll get everything figured out." Alya stared at Ella for a second before she smiled and nodded, turning back to Marinette as the boys led the way inside.
"This whole party thing is way weird." Marinette grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Well, I've known Chloé for a long time. She can be really cool, sometimes." Adrien turned, shrugging his shoulders at the blunette. But that proved to be an error, as Chloé suddenly appeared on Adrien's back, hugging the teen tighter than a snake.
"Adri-kins!" The blonde girl greeted Adrien, kissing him on the cheeks in typical French greeting.
"What do you think of me hosting this party? Really nice of me, right?"
"It's awesome, Chloé!" Adrien praised his childhood friend, before gently moving her towards their other classmates. Rose, Kim and Max came up to the girl, giving her similar greetings, until Chloé came face to face with Marinette. The two girls gasped as they stared at each other. Ella and Alya watched the exchange, trying to hold in laughter at the two looked behind the other for reassurance from others, before they begrudgingly leaned in. They both kiss each other on the cheeks, before spinning on their heels and groan, rubbing at their lips and cheeks.
"I should have got you guys on video!" Alya chuckled, gently nudging Ella with her shoulder; the noirette nodded, covering her own mouth to keep in her giggles.
"Don't rub it in." Marinette mumbled, rubbing her cheek.

With the party underway and Nino controlling the DJ, everyone is enjoying themselves. Ella stood off to the side against the windows, watching everyone engage and have fun. It really was a nice party and Chloé was proving that she could be nice- while it clearly was driving her crazy. With a sigh, Ella turned to the bar and grabbed two glasses of water before turning to find Adrien.

Marinette frowned, watching Chloé with suspicion in her gaze.
"This BFF act she's doing is just one big charade. She's just doing it to please Adrien." She grumbled to Alya, causing the redhead to chuckle.
"Ahem. How funny. That reminds me of a girl who didn't want to go to a party until she heard she heard Adrien would be there."
"Please don't compare me to Chloé." Marinette groaned, crossing her arms and shuddering. Alya giggled, but then her gaze was taken by the blunette's crush standing at the edge of the dance floor.
"Hey Marinette- there's Adrien! Go over and ask him to dance, girl!"
Marinette immediately floundered, waving her arms in from to her chest and words falling from her mouth like fish jumping from a barrel.
"Uh, what?! Adrien!? No, you're crazy!" Alya smirked and moved to shove Marinette towards Adrien, when Ella reappeared at the blond's side. The two spoke for a moment, Ella handing over a drink. Alya and Marinette watched their classmates, as the pair finished their drinks before Adrien took the glasses away and then returned, taking Ella's hands and leading her onto the dance floor.
Alya bit her lip and turned back to Marinette, seeing the jealousy flashing in those bluebell eyes.
"It's okay, Marinette- there's gonna be another chance to dance with him..." Alya tried, placing her hands on her friends shoulders.
"I know I shouldn't be jealous..." Marinette sighed, giving Alya a small sad frown.
"I know it's hard girl, but trust me- things will happen when they're supposed to. Don't worry- your time with Adrien will come."
At Alya's words, Marinette smiled and nodded; neither girl noticing the akuma change directions at the dissipation of Marinette's vanishing jealousy.